Improvement in knitting-machines



PATENTED AUG 81871 L/Al UNITED STATES JOHN M. HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNlTTlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,886, dated August 8, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. HoWE, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to that class of knittingmachines 'in which two parallel rows of needles work at an angle to each other upon inclined beds, and it consists more especially in a novel means of adjusting alternately the cams that operate each row of needles, and in the construction and arrangement of the wing-cams and other minor parts of the machine.

In the drawing, Figure l is a sectional elevation of those parts to the left of the dotted line z, Fig. 4. Fig. Z is a side elevation in the direction of the arrow w, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of my invention. Fig. 4 is an elevation of one side of the machine in the direction of the arrow y, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the lock-plate B, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an obverse view of the lock-plate B.

The lock-plates B and B are made in one piece with the connecting-arch G, and together form the sliding frame, which is reciprocated upon the needle-bed A by a crank and pitman attached to the stud a, Figs. 1 and 4, or by other convenient means. The lock-plates B B carry each a cam, D D', and two wing-cams, J J', which operate the needles, as is usual in this class of machines. Latch-openers b are also provided upon the sliding frame, acting upon the needle-latches in the ordinary manner. The V-cams D Dl are rigidly attached to supporting-arms E E, which are hinged at their upper extremities to a stud, k, fixed to the arch G. For the purpose of adjusting these cams to engage with each set of needles alternately, as is required in knitting tubular Work, I provide a sliding plate, F, Figs. 1 and 2, through or into an inclined slot in which a stem, c, upon one of the V-cams projects. The slotted plate F moves in ways formed upon one of the lock-plates B or B', and by its reciprocation alternately elevates and depresses the V-canis, as fully described in my patent of March 15, 1870.

I, however, adopt other means of operating saidv slotted plate and of connecting the V-cams together than those therein described. A frictionclutch or dog, d, is pivoted at one extremity to the plate F, and its lower end is formed to project into a `longitudinal groove, e, in the bed A of the machine, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The groove e is preferably made dovetailing in section, as shown iii Fig. 1, whereby the tendency of the clutch to work out laterally when hung in an inclined position is removed. It will be observed that when the sliding frame is reciprocated upon the bed the clutch d rocks over slightly in the groove e, and thus becomes clamped by the friction upon the sides ofthe groove, and holds the plate F while the movement of the sliding frame is continued. This operation oscillates the arms E E and V -cams D D by means of the slot in F, as above mentioned. Thus, at each reversal ofthe sliding frame, the clutch d moves the slotted plate in its ways sufficiently to adjust the V-cams upon each side iii and out of contact with the needle-shanks, and this movement takes place through the peculiar action of the clutch,Y

no matter what the position of the sliding frame upon the bed at the time of the reversal. The advantage of this arrangement is, that the stroke of the sliding frame need be only suicient to allow the cams to pass those needles that are in use, instead of extending entirely across the needlebed for the purpose of changing the locks at the extremities, as has heretofore been customary. If necessary, the length ofthe crank driving the sliding frame may be made adjustable for different lengths of work, or the operator may simply oscillate it backward and forward for this purpose. A carrier-plate, j', Figs. 1 and 2, is fixed to the sliding frame, and is slotted or cut away opposite the groove c in the bed to permit its longitudin al movement over the clutch d, the lower .extremity of which passes through the opening in the carrier, such movement being' sufficient to shift the slotted plate F and V-cams, as before described. Thus the friction of the clutch d against the sides of the groove e is relieved by the carrier-plate when the requisite movement of F is completed in either direction, the clutch moving smoothly along in the groove c till the motion ofthe sliding frame is again reversed, when the clamping operation takes place as before. When it is desired to knit a iiat web by the use of one row of needles, the locking-plate g pivoted to the clutch al is turned down to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, catching behind lugs h upon the carrier-plate, and retaining the clutch and slotted plate F at either extremity of and V-oa-lns D D7 in combination With the oa'r- 7. In combination7 with the clamping-screw o tier-plate j', arranged to operate substantially :is und slot p, the Wing-02u11 J provided With 2t slot7 set forth. n, and the guiding-pin o upon the look-plate, ar-

5. In combination with the friotional olutehranged to operate 'oonjoint1y, for the purposes set bur d und sliding eem-plete F, the looking-latch forth. g and stops h, substantially as and for the pur- J. M. HOWE. poses set forth.

6. The wing-cams J J provided with graduit- Witnesses: tions upon their faces, Which are exposed through F. H. CLEMENT, the openings in the look-plates7 substantially its DANL. L. JOHNSTON. and for the purposes set forth. 

